It Had to Be Him: It Had to Be, Book 1

Even though Meg Anderson's hell-raising days are over, coming home to Anderson Butte isn't easy, especially when her impossible-to-please dad is the mayor and her do-gooder siblings run the place. But with another job lost and the gorgeous father of her daughter trying to make contact after disappearing three years ago, a break is definitely in order. Hopefully the little town filled with big, juicy secrets can help.

Twisted Up: Taking Chances, Book 1

Avery Sparks is a master at controlling chaos - and she gets plenty of opportunities as fire chief and head of emergency management in her hometown of Chance, Nebraska. The only thing she can't seem to control are her feelings when she's around Jake Mitchell, the man who was her first everything the night of their high school graduation. But Jake was so quick to leave Chance - and Avery - behind that she swore she'd move on.

Crossing Hearts

Hunter Cross has no regrets. Having left his football prospects behind the day he graduated high school, he's happy to carry out his legacy on his family's farm in the foothills of the Shenandoah. But when a shoulder injury puts him face-to-face with the high school sweetheart who abandoned town - and him - twelve years ago, Hunter's simple life gets a lot more complicated.

His First and Last: Ardent Springs

At eighteen, Lorelei Pratchett couldn't wait to get out of her hometown. Twelve years later, her Hollywood dreams have fizzled and she's back - temporarily, she thinks. Though she throws herself into saving the old theater and starting a baking business, small towns have long memories, and Lorelei's wild past still haunts her. It doesn't help that her ex-boyfriend, Spencer Boyd, is even hotter, smarter, and more distracting than before.

Suddenly in Love: A Lake Haven Novel, Book 1

Mia Lassiter is thrilled to finally put her artistic skills to use working for her aunt's interior design shop in her hometown of East Beach. While renovating an old mansion overlooking stunning Lake Haven, she encounters a scruffy but attractive man named Brennan - the owner's son. She doesn't realize this sexy recluse is actually Everett Alden, the world-famous rock star in hiding who's nursing his own artistic and personal crises.

Claiming Grace

For Logan Anderson, moving on from a traumatic past means moving back to his hometown of Castle Rock, Colorado, to start a personal-security business with his brothers. But it's not long before Logan runs into Grace Mason, his best friend from high school...and the woman who never answered his letters during his Army years. Grace was pleasantly surprised to see Logan return to Castle Rock, despite their falling-out ten years ago. Everyone always assumed they would end up together, including Grace.

Feral Sins: Phoenix Pack, Book 1

Taryn Warner is a wolf shifter with extraordinary healing skills - and serious problems. First, her father is determined that she mate for life with a wolf shifter named Roscoe Weston, whom the feisty Taryn can't stand. To make matters worse, she's also been kidnapped by Trey Coleman, a dangerous alpha male from another pack. And as much as she wants to resist Trey, Taryn is incredibly, maddeningly attracted to him.

Worth the Wait

Thirteen years ago, Vivi LeBrun was sketching a rooster and eating Oreos when she first met - and fell for - her friend's brother, David St. James. Since then, her love for David has only intensified thanks to years of friendship with his family, who rescued her from a lonely, tumultuous childhood. As she travels to Block Island to vacation with the St. James siblings, Vivi daydreams about reuniting with David, hoping he'll finally see her as his soul mate.

Accidentally Hers: Sterling Canyon

When ruggedly sexy backcountry guide Grey Lowell moves to Sterling Canyon, Colorado, after buying the ski-expedition company Backtrax, his plans don't include romance. Still, it's fun to look - especially across a crowded restaurant at a beauty he dubs "Bambi". But all his plans change later that night when he's injured by a drunk driver.

Doing It Over: Most Likely to, Book 1

Voted Most Likely to Succeed, Melanie Bartlett ended up anything but. The down-on-her-luck single mom wants a complete do-over - is that too much to ask? With her family long gone from River Bend, strong, independent Mel is as surprised as anyone to end up in the quaint small town she once called home. But with her friends, Jo and Zoe, by her side, and a comfortable room at Miss Gina's quirky bed-and-breakfast, she just might have turned the corner on a new life.

The CEO Buys In: Wager of Hearts, Book 1

Self-made billionaire Nathan Trainor feels restless and disillusioned. His company may be thriving, but he can't find a woman who sees him for more than his wealth. With his love life in the red, he meets two other billionaire bachelors at the ultra-exclusive Bellwether Club. The three of them make a wager of the heart: they must find women who love them for who they are, not their money.

Spiral of Need: Mercury Pack, Book 1

Ally Marshall isn't just a wolf shifter - she's a Seer. But a girl doesn't exactly need special powers to know that Derren Hudson despises her entire kind. Disdain practically rolls off the Beta of the Mercury Pack... disdain mixed with a healthy dose of desire. And no matter how much the ruggedly handsome male appeals to her, this is one call of the wild she's determined to ignore.

Crazy for Her: A K2 Team Novel, Book 1

When his best friend and fellow Navy SEAL, Evan Prescott, died in his arms on the battlefield, Logan Kincaid gave his word to watch over Evan's widow. But for two years he kept his distance... torn between honoring his solemn vow and succumbing to his secret love for his fallen comrade's wife. But when Dani Prescott desperately reaches out to Logan for the help only he can give, he rushes to her side - determined to fight for her safety as fiercely as he fights against his own buried desire.

Sweet as Sin: Bad Habit, Book 1

Twenty-something Kat Reid is loving life as an in-demand Hollywood makeup artist. She has absolutely no interest in rock 'n' roll, but in order to pay the mortgage, she agrees to work on the set of a rock video for the world-famous rockers known as Bad Habit...which brings her face-to-face with Nico Nyx, lead singer of Bad Habit and Adonis in the flesh.

It's in His Heart: A Red River Valley Novel

Ella Dennings is furious. Soaking wet, muddy, and furious. All she wants is to enjoy a quiet summer retreat in her Red River cabin. Maybe she can finish healing after the death of her husband, Bradley. Maybe she can even start writing that third book in her top secret bestselling erotica series. But when she arrives at the cabin in a raging June rainstorm, who does she find holed up there but Cooper Wells, Bradley's sexy best friend - a man capable of seducing women of all ages and cup sizes within seconds - and a man Ella has never liked.

Taken, Not Spurred: Lone Star Burn, Book 1

Would-be writer Sarah Dery has just turned twenty-five and feels like her life is on hold. She’s done squat with her English degree and is just killing time working for her parents. So, when the opportunity to spend the summer working on a ranch in Texas comes her way, she jumps at the chance - figuring it might be just the jolt she needs to get her creative juices flowing.

What You Do to Me: The Haneys, Book 1

Whether it's repairing a home or taking care of clients' other needs, Twin Cities handyman Sam Haney is in demand from his mostly female clientele. Despite Sam's lothario reputation, love isn't part of his portfolio. He's built a lot of walls in his time, but the one that's surrounded his heart ever since the death of his parents is his most solid yet.

Burn

Part of a small demon lair in Las Vegas, tattooist Harper Wallis lives a pretty simple life. That changes overnight when she discovers that her psychic mate, or 'anchor', is a guy who's rumoured to be the most powerful demon in existence. Compelling, full of secrets and armed with raw sexuality, Knox Thorne is determined to claim her as his anchor, creating a psychic bond that will prevent their inner demons from ever turning rogue.

Party Girl: The Girl's Series, Book 1

Landon Brinkley's dreams are all coming true. She's landed an internship with the fabulous Selah Smith, event planner for the Hollywood elite, taking her from small-town Texas to the bright lights of LA. Landon soon finds herself in a world in which spending a million dollars on an event - even a child's birthday party - is de rigueur and the whims of celebrity clients are life-and-death matters.

The Billionaire's Christmas

Called an eccentric beast by the citizens of Amesport, Maine, handsome billionaire Grady Sinclair stays isolated in his mansion on a private peninsula. The arrangement suits Grady just fine - until an angelic woman rings his doorbell, awaking his long dormant passion with her fearlessness. All he wants is to make the fiery blonde his forever. But will he have to become the monster everyone thinks he is to get his Christmas wish?

Not Quite Dating: Not Quite Series, Book 1

Working the graveyard shift as a waitress, single mother Jessie Mann has no time to waste on a Texan with big dreams and a skinny wallet. And that's just what she sees when Jack Morrison ambles into the diner where she works. After a childhood of financial instability, Jessie swore she'd do better by her son. But with Christmas just around the corner, saying no to Jack and his cowboy good looks is easier said than done.

Carry Me Home

Paradise, Idaho, may not be the largest town, but for newly minted professor Zoe Santangelo, it's the first step on the path to her big break. After teaching in a small Idaho school, her next stop is the Ivy League, and no one is going to stand in her way. She'll do what it takes to move up, to protect her students from a creepy campus stalker - and to protect her heart from Cal Jackson, the hot, hunky cowboy who keeps coming to her rescue.

Easy Love

Sexy. Intriguing. Easy. Eli Boudreaux's family has built ships and boats in Louisiana for generations. He comes from a hardworking, wealthy family, and his empire is growing by leaps and bounds. At 30 he is the youngest CEO ever to head Bayou Enterprises, cochairing with his eldest brother. His head for business and his no-nonsense work ethic are also quickly making him the best the company has seen in generations. His staff admires him, women adore him, and Eli's family is solid.

Beneath This Mask: The Beneath Series, Book 1

He loves me, and he doesn't even know my real name. The limelight that follows him could expose everything I'm hiding. But even knowing the risks, I can't force myself to stay away. I'm going to break his heart, but mine will shatter right along with it. Will we lose it all when I reveal what's beneath this mask?

Publisher's Summary

Tara Carter isn't looking for romance. She's content seeing patients at her new dental practice by day, then going home and cuddling with her puppy at night. Her new life in the tiny town of Anderson Butte, Colorado - known by celebrities as the place to lie low - is the perfect respite for a woman with a whopper of a secret. There's just one problem: the town's sexy sheriff knows she's hiding something.

Sheriff Ryan Anderson, weary of small-town drama, has sworn off dating locals and thinks a fresh start in a bigger city is in order. However, the more he gets to know Tara, the more his heart tells him that she could be the woman of his dreams. But he wants to get to the bottom of whatever she's trying so hard to keep under wraps. Can he uncover her secret before it drives them apart forever?

This was another fun listen. I enjoyed it as much as the first one. I did like Tara and Ryan together a lot. She brought out the conversationalist in him LOL. They had some good chemistry together.

Her back story was a bit sad and brutal but she was a survivor. There was a lot of dialogue throughout this story. Very easy story to follow along. It flowed very nicely.

As for the narration, again Kate Rudd did a fantastic job! All the men sound like men, the kids sound like kids and she has a great reading voice.

I will move on to the next book for sure.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

ritaweadon

15/07/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"Love This series!"

I am Truly Enjoying the It Had To Be Series, getting to know the characters of this small town has been very entertaining!

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Trish R.

JACKSONVILLE, FL, United States

18/11/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Excellent read and listen.."

I liked this book much better than the first. I just loved Ryan and Tara/Jamie, but I did think it took a long time for her to tell Ryan about her insane ex-husband. He was a sheriff, for goodness sake. Tara was a little slow on the up-take but at least she wasn’t portrayed as stupid as Meg was in It Had To Be Him. As it turned out Tara didn’t have a TSTL moment, or hour.

And it was nice that Meg, Josh, Eric, Casey, Ben, Grandma and Zeke showed up here and there during the book. They are all such a great family.

This was a great story about Tara’s ex nearly killing her then he was sent to an insane asylum and she went into hiding because of fear he would pay someone to hurt Tara. It all worked out better than OK in the end. It was a very good story and I will definitely move on to the next one.

There was explicit sex in this book and swearing too. There was a ton of desire, which made the book even better. NO F-bombs

As to the narrator: Again, Ms. Rudd was awesome with her men’s voices and her emotions while reading. She laughed, she cried, she whispered with barely a breath when Ryan’s lungs were full of dust from the mine, she did it all. Wonderful narration.

You can't beat this or Ms. Baumann's other books in this series when they're all Free Read, Free Listen. Nothin' better than FREE.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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